Question
QUESTION: Hello, I've received many persimmon seeds from which people bought fruits from the market in an Asian country. So i am sure it must be an Asian persimmon. As i live in France near Paris, i had put some seeds directly into a pot and placed them inhouse, the rest of the seeds i put them in a tissue paper wet with water and placed them in the refrigerator over winter. There're 2 seeds which have germinated in the pot about 10 cm and then died off which i couldn't understand why(perhaps over watering or not enough air and light? But a little sad as i love to grow persimmon. The rest of the seeds which i placed in the refrigerator were planted in a pot in my garden during spring(March/April) now that they have germinated around 10 of them but not all equal some are around 5 cm height with 2 small leaves others are still pushing their heads with the seed coats. My question is when should i place them into the soil in my backyard? And how to protect them during cold winter? As i am afraid leaving them in the coming cold winter they would die as they are still so young! If i bring them in the house would they support to live? Thanking you in advance.

ANSWER: Bonjour Rose,
Thank you for your question and greetings to France.  I'm not sure an Asian persimmon would be hardy in your climate.  Generally, these trees are only hardy to USDA Zone 8 which means they suffer damage and die when temperatures consistently fall below -6癈.  In the U.S. these trees are usually grown in Oregon, California, Florida and Texas where freezes are minimal.  The plants need to be about 15cm tall to support themselves in the garden.  Do you have an unheated cellar or shed the plants can stay in during the winter?  They will go dormant once you have your first frost and can be put in a cold, protected place.  Just make sure you water them periodically.  Because they need a certain period of chilling to produce fruit, they cannot be treated as a house plant like you can with citrus and tropical fruit trees.  They would probably do very well in the South of France, outdoors.  I'd go ahead though, and try it and see what happens.  I hope this helps and let me know how it goes.  
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Bonjour Tom, I'm very happy to received your answer so promptly! For the past recent years Paris(Ile de france) was not so cold (-2) until last winter, it's -8. I've been searching around here for the past few months to buy a persimmon tree but i found they sell only Muscat persimmon. I am not sure if Muscat persimmon resist cold weather and does it sound like Asian persimmon type of tree? Does Muscat fruit taste good? This is why i've hesitated to buy. In the mean time my seeds have germinated, i am happy to see them pushing their heads every day in the sun! As for your answer i don't have an unheated cellar, but can i make some shed for them by using some transparent plastic sheets? what is the temperature needed for them to go dormant during winter? As i've an outdoor entrance with translucent glass i will check to see the temperature there. Thanking you again.

Answer
Bonjour Rose,
Thank you for the additional information.  I do not know the Muscat variety of persimmon.  Most of the Asian persimmons grown in the U.S. are Fuyu or other Japanese types.  Muscat sounds Middle Eastern or West Asian.  I know there are fruit varieties grown in Europe that are not grown in the U.S. and so I don't know those varieties.  I was just looking at the averages from December through February in Paris and you may be able to grow an Asian persimmon in a protected corner of your yard.  Put is somewhere where the north wind does not blow on it directly.  Because you have grown some from seed, you won't have to risk a cost by buying a tree.  I say go for it and try it and see what happens.  The cold period Paris has should be sufficient for fruiting.  Most fruit trees (non-tropical) require various chill periods in order to go dormant and rest and then come back to life in the spring with blossoms and fruit.  If they don't get rest (dormancy) they will wear themselves out and die.  That is why apples don't grow in tropical Africa, for instance.  If you need to store the tree indoors, you can keep it a manageable, albeit miniature size and maybe your outdoor entrance will be chilly enough.  I hope this helps.
Tom